Within the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center, our Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms and Comfort Cart extend the signature warmth and hospitality of Ronald McDonald House to families right at their child’s bedside. Our in-hospital programs and services – which include free meals, snacks, personal care items and other resources – are available to every family that needs to be close to their hospitalized child, regardless of whether or not they are staying with us at the Ronald McDonald House.
Our longest running Family Room, located on the 7th floor of the D building within the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital (commonly known as D7), has been a respite for families with critically ill and injured children for more than 25 years. Located just steps away from the pediatric intensive care and general pediatric units and staffed by compassionate volunteers, this Family Room offers a comfortable place to escape some of the stress and tension of the hospital environment, even if just for a moment. We also have two overnight sleep rooms available to help families in the most critical situations stay as close as possible while still getting the rest they need.
In January 2026, with tremendous pride and gratitude, we opened the doors to our newest Ronald McDonald House Family Room, located inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Albany Medical Center. Much like our original Family Room, this space offers families with infants in critical care a relaxing and supportive place to take a breath, grab a bite to eat, and connect with caring individuals, all just steps away from their babies’ besides. From this space, we also provide HOPE bags filled with essential items for NICU parents and their children to every family we serve.
Our Comfort Cart extends the hospitality of our Family Rooms even further, traveling through the PICU and General Pediatrics units, as well as the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders and the Massry Family Children’s Emergency Center, stocked with coffee, snacks, books, and personal care items delivered right to patients and families at their bedsides. From the cart, families can stay right next to their child and still have access to all of the amenities available in our Family Rooms.
The Comfort Cart currently operates:
Supporting the Ronald McDonald House Family Room: NICU
